PS The Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose is an important part of the application, and should be carefully written to include the applicant’s research interests and possible mentors among the faculty. The personal statement should also include motivations for undertaking graduate training, and future career goals. GPA A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale is required for unconditional admission to the Biological Sciences Graduate Program. Fee The application fee is $65 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and $80 for international students. Please note that application fees are non-refundable. RL Three letters of recommendation, provided by faculty members who have direct knowledge of and can comment on the applicant’s academic and research potential. Letters from friends, employers for non-laboratory jobs, clergy, etc. are usually not helpful. All letters of recommendation must be submitted online via the Graduate School’s document processing website. A link to this website is provided via email to references listed on the application. Transcript Transcripts from previous institution(s).